Pembroke High School - Mattakeesett Yearbook (Pembroke, MA)

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THE WAMPUM 7 constructed. Thus, in reading what is considered the best books, one must seek for pleasure not only in the plot, but also in observing English used to its best advantage. It is not always possible to obtain all the good points at one reading, but these books will stand more than one, and oftentimes the second is enjoyed as much as, if not more than, the first. LITERARY A VACATION ADVENTURE Alvin Nash and Edward Sawyer, or Eddie, as he was always called by his friends, had been playmates since childhood. Both were of about the same age and lived in the same neigh- bo-rhood. Although their homes were in the city, nevertheless, both liked na- ture and hunting stories, for that was the only way they got a glimpse of the outside world. Often the windows of sporting goods stores, with their moose and bear heads, guns, and other para- phernalia of the woods, held them spell- bound. How they wished 'they could have a chance to get amongst the deni- zens of the wild, away from the bustle and rumble of the city! It seemed as if Dame Fortune saw and smiled on them, for the 20th of November brought a letter to Alvin from his Uncle Henry, who owned a lumber camp up in the Great North Woods of Maine. It said that if they had not already made plans for the Thanksgiving vacation, he would be pleased to have them visit him. How the hearts of the boys were thrilled! Would they go? Surest thing you know, if they could overcome parental objections. So they revealed the con- tents of the letter to their folks and asked if they might accept. Mighty dangerous thing, letting two seventeen year old boys go trooping off so far from home, said Mrs. Nash, and her sentiments were echoed by Mrs. Sawyer. But luckily for the boys, their fathers took another view of the matter. It will do the 'kids' good to get into the open and be dependent on themselves awhile, said Mr. Sawyer, and Mr. Nash, and to this statement their wives finally acqui-esced. Then the boys began to plan for the trip and collect the necessary articles. They were to start the 22nd, and although it was only two days away, it seemed an eternity to the youths. At last, how- ever, with heavily laden suitcases they boarded the iron monster which was to convey them to Little Medicine Station, whence they wou.ld be taken to camp in a buckboard. O er hill and vale, past fields, woods, and villages, the train sped, until at dusk the engine came to a stop at Little Medicine, a fiaga station, and they piled out. As their letter had said, they were met by the buckboard and Joe, the cook. After a tedious ride over logs and brush, the boys arrived at the camp. Here Uncle Henry welcomed them and assigned a shanty for their use. They soon retired, for the long train ride had been very wearing. Both boys were up at daybreak to partake of breaHast and see the lumberjacks leave for work. Then Uncle Henry brought out two 1

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6 THE WAMPUM food prices are liable to soar higher because the United States has entered the war. To bring some relief, the government has declared that all idle farm land shall be given over to the state to be planted. If the season is favorable, this will probably insure a large increase over last year's produc- tion. The people themselves have taken hold of the idea 3 and every child in school should resolve to have a small garden. Eat less and grow healthier! One of the greatest evils of the American people is that of overeating. This 'has formerly been Wrong from purely a physical standpoint, but with War upon us and a great short- age of foodstuffs, caused by natural conditions, the situation takes a very different aspect. France and England must have grain and 'other commodities of life, for their lands and people are already taxed to the limit supplying the trenches and firing lines. So we now have the double burden of furnishing our own soldiers and those of our al- lies. Save England, 'her navy has saved us. Now that there is such a loud cry about the lack of food stuffs, the pu- pils of all schools should ind pleas- ure and profit in a small garden. Th-ough the want is probably not as great as the various papers and maga- zines affirm, yet, what is the harm in being prepared? The pleasure one ob- tains from such a garden is greater than the labor put into it. What is so much fun as going into the fresh air and planting in the spring? What is so good as .being able to gather fresh vegetables for the table from your own garden in the summer? And lastly, what is more pleasing than the har- vesting of the crops for winter? If the pupils will only try it, I think their combined small crops Will be a great help. ' Latin is of great value in the mas- tery of literary English. It not only aids one in enlarging his vocabulary and in spelling difficult Words, but it also increases his power to read, to understand, and to write English fluently. Moreover, the Latin student is less apt to fail in taking up the study of other foreign languages which are founded on Latin, since he knows the compounds and the way the words are formed. Again, Latin affords a deeper insight into the civilization which We have, in many ways, inherit- ed from the Romans. On the other hand, those who do not study this lan- guage meet great diificulties in learn- ing other tongues, and in understand- ing science, and traveling through the historic countries loses its charm. For practical use, also, Latin is helpful in nearly all kinds of trade and business, while it is necessary for the doctor, the lawyer, the artist, the musician, and all scientists. To conclude, then, Latin is not a dead language, 'because of its associa- tion with the languages which are spoken today, and because of its close connection with all professions. Good books are as necessary for a good education as proper food and ex- ercise are for good health. Both are required on the Way to success. Many times the search for exciting plots and stories which are all climax leads one to overlook the construction of the story. However, the test of time has proved that in order to last and be con- sidered good, a book must be properly

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8 THE WAMPUM shotgims and showed the youths how to handle them. This took most of the morning, consequently the boys waited until after dinner before setting out, with instructions not to go beyond the cuttings and trail, profecti sunt. Both shot a rabbit a little way from camp and were so tickled that they retiuned. ' Next day they started out bright and early, but seeing no game, went back for dinner. In the afternoon the boys shouldered their guns and began again. When about two miles from the camp, Eddie saw a bear at which, with the ig- norance of a city bred youth, he fired. This so angered the bear that he im- mediately charged the two boys, Alvin fired both barrels at the face of the infuriated beast, but this merely accel- erated his speed, for the shells were only loaded with fine bird shot. Dropping the useless guns, the boys fled to a near- by oak and-pulled themselves to safety just in time. Thereupon the bear, after watching the stranded hunters for awhile, sat down on his haunches be- neath the tree. Well, we're in a pretty fix now, said Alvin, I donft just love the idea of spending the night up here? We gotta get out somehow, but Ifll be blamed if I can see the solution? I have it, exclaimed Ed, 'Tll take the wads and shot out of my shells and make a bomb. With his j acklmife he emptied all the shells and poured the powder into a box in which he had carried some lunch. He fastened two strings to the pack, one to let it to the ground and the other to serve as a fuse. Setting off the fuse he slowly lowered the crude weapon. The fuse sputtered, but did not go out. The strange con- traption greatly puzzled the bear, who pawed it around and finally, when the fuse had nearly reached the powder, picked it up in his mouth. Presently a terrible roar, followed by clouds of smoke, broke the stillness. When the smoke cleared, the bear was seen lying: on his side, dead, his whole jaw blown off by the force of the explosion The noise attracted many men from the woods, and they dragged Bruin back to camp. Here a half-breed skinned and cured the pelt. Three days later, tak- ing the trophy of the hunt and promis- ing to come again next year, the boys started their homeward journey. W. A. C. '1'7. WHERE WAS HIS KULTUR? In the southwestern part of France there is a small rich territory from which its inhabitants, a band of honest farmers, had been sending good-sized amounts of food to help feed the French troops. Then, suddenly, the Germans discovered this plot of unravaged ground and immediately sent a regi- ment there with the order to lay waste everything you can put your hands on, and kill every farmer you see. The German troops approached the village slowly without being seen by the busy farmers. They camped in the shel- ter of a hill on the eastern side of the valley, and on the next morning the general sent out several scouts to learn the lay of the land and to discover how great was the defending ability of the farmer folk. One of the scouts, a yoimg private, took up his rifle and started with an air which plainly said, Iam glad to get out of this camp, even if it is only for a day. He climbed to the top of the hill and thence into the valley. It was with a regretful sigh that he thought how this peaceful spot would look in a few days, and of the sujfering which would fall